Uncouth Angela Rayner doing Labour no favours

She still has fabulous hair

(Just saying)

Even my Mother wasn't bovvered.

Funny the outrage about "the language of the gutter" (considering the bad language I hear in local shops/streets/buses her's seems fairly mild to be honest) but the actual gutter behaviour of others seems to be glossed over. In fact I think alot of the outrage is because people don't want certain politicians behaviour to be called out.

Kali2

I totally agree with what she said- but not the words she used. She is in a powerful rôle, and she must have known that such words not acceptable, especially in an official speech and not a private conversation that was inadvertently picked up.

As teachers, we know that this would not be acceptable in the classroom, so why would it be acceptable at Conference with press present.

As said, I admire her and totally agree with her- but honestly she should have known better, and apologised in such a way that she meant it, but accepted the word used was inappropriate- she would have gained a lot of respect for doing that.

Maybe people at conference being adults makes it a bit different to school?

Maybe people at conference being adults makes it a bit different to school?

Yes, we are talking about supposed grown-ups here and what is more, professional people in the public eye.

Such playground language is off-putting and not the best way to win the majority over to her views.

It may appeal to a minority but that won't win an election.

What is the general discussion about online, in the media?
Not the essence of what she said but the words she used.

It’s offensive to imply that because people don’t agree with your exact political stance they are ‘Pearl clutchers’ and not real Labour voters in some way. I take exception to that. We are clearly destined to disagree on this issue though PippaZ. I think voters will remember what Angela Rayner said, and she will forever be labelled as not up to being on the international stage. That’s not gossip, it’s a reflection of her behaving unprofessionally - she dug her own hole. It’s a shame as she is very able, but it’s on record now and will constantly be thrown back at her face.

Some are out to bring her down.

No, but perhaps they would like to think she can up her game and realise that this may well put off would-be Labour voters.

Passion is one thing but she seems to lack common sense about how to win voters over which is essential.

Callistemon

She still has fabulous hair

(Just saying)

I agree. And those eyes! She’s quite stunning really.

Her words will cloud her image with future voters and at the end of the day that’s the only currency that matters. Mind you, compared to most she’s already on mega-money in the Opposition - so maybe she’s actually not that ‘bovvered’.

Casdon

It’s offensive to imply that because people don’t agree with your exact political stance they are ‘Pearl clutchers’ and not real Labour voters in some way. I take exception to that. We are clearly destined to disagree on this issue though PippaZ. I think voters will remember what Angela Rayner said, and she will forever be labelled as not up to being on the international stage. That’s not gossip, it’s a reflection of her behaving unprofessionally - she dug her own hole. It’s a shame as she is very able, but it’s on record now and will constantly be thrown back at her face.

I think we are. We are not Victorian maiden aunts and I imagine have all heard much worse. Watching her today, after the speech, I was impressed.

Johnson, in the Foreign Office, has made lives much worse than they needed to be. I don't think she is a scintilla the liability verbally, that he is. But ah, he is a man; he is a so that's what we should expect isn't it, smiling sweetly while he is a homophobic, racist, misogynistic upperclass hooray. So that's alright then.

But ah, he is a man; he is a so that's what we should expect when he opens his mouth isn't it.

Red herrings abound.

Why would we expect anybody to behave in that way though PippaZ? I dislike invective from any politicians, male or female - maybe that’s why I like Starmer and Drakeford. It’s nothing to do with their maleness, but is to do with their ideology, considered approach and commitment.

She was at a post watershed LP reception for goodness sake, not making a speech at the actual conference when she used that "dreaded" word.

Casdon

Why would we expect anybody to behave in that way though PippaZ? I dislike invective from any politicians, male or female - maybe that’s why I like Starmer and Drakeford. It’s nothing to do with their maleness, but is to do with their ideology, considered approach and commitment.

There are people who have called AR out who have never, ever said that what has come out of Johnson's mouth is far, far worse and has been actually damaging. What damage - other than perhaps to herself, did Angela Rayner do?

Scum: One, such as a person or an element of society, that is regarded as despicable or worthless.

You may no like the word - but she certainly summed up Johnson.

Dinahmo

She was at a post watershed LP reception for goodness sake, not making a speech at the actual conference when she used that "dreaded" word.

Exactly Dinahmo. I'm sure we have all heard much worse, much less appropriately used.

For me this silly haranguing of a women for a simple, accurate statement needs to stop. So I will not add to this post any more.

'She certainly summed up Johnson.'

In your opinion, Pippa Z.

eazybee

'She certainly summed up Johnson.'

In your opinion, Pippa Z.

In mine too.

I just despair when the whole focus is on the language someone used and all the racist, homophobic, mysoginistic stuff is ignored. What it implies is that you can be as divisive as you like as long as your vocabulary is OK.

...and you forgot something trisher - as long as you're not a working class woman who's no better than she should be.

The aggressive dislike many on the left feel towards Tory supporters will repel those who Keir Starmer needs to win over

A quote from The Times to-day but very true.

I give up. As I’ve repeatedly said it’s not specifically about the word scum, or what situation she was in when she said it. It’s not because she’s a woman. We all have a line. I can’t defend her behaviour now because she’s crossed it for me. That doesn’t mean I’m a Pearl clutcher, a snob, a closet Tory (God forbid) or that I don’t understand the oppression of women in society. None of us are going to change others positions by arguing about whether we think the way she behaved is acceptable.

So when Johnson called Muslim women "letter boxes" did you find that acceptable Casdon.?
It's funny there always has been amongst the working class this perception that to use bad language somehow indicates that you aren't as clever or as civilised as some members. I was raised with this idea. My parents never swore and regarded people who did as slightly inferior to them. I think it was probably established during Victorian times by the church. It is probably linked with the deserving and undeserving poor.

You're right trisher and I'm not the slightest bit shocked at the word "scum", especially when everybody knows what Rayner meant.

Nevertheless, I think it's a shame she didn't rise above it. There's no reason to be dragged down to Johnson's level.

I can't remember now what she was talking about, but I do remember one occasion when she was confronting Johnson in the HoC. The look she gave him could have killed - she was terrifying without saying a word. She has the gift of leaving him no defence and needs to be clever enough to use it.

Boz

The aggressive dislike many on the left feel towards Tory supporters will repel those who Keir Starmer needs to win over

A quote from The Times to-day but very true.

No, it isn't; it's an opinion which you seem to share. Do you think that because The Times says so it has to be true?

Why does the Times think Keir Starmer needs Tory supporters anyway. What he needs are floating voters who floated in the Tory direction because of Brexit.

By the time of the next election, they won't care what anyone else thinks of them. Their taxes will have gone up, their heating and lighting will have gone up, their food prices will have gone up, their petrol prices will have gone up. In-work benefits and pensions will not have gone up. Who do you think they will vote for in those circumstances?